Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Unfairly, at least from the standpoint of a novice, the more birds you have seen in
forests, or any other habitat, the more birds you will be able to see. The first ones can be
ever so tricky, but as you get to know each one, you'll recognize the kinds of vegetation
and where within it each species is most often found. With every new bird you find, find-
ing the next one will be that much easier.
Don't get discouraged when you go out with an experienced birder who calls out all
kindsofbirdsyoudon'tsee.Mostexperiencedbirdersrecognizebirdvoices,andmostof
thebirdstheycalloutwereheardbutnotseen.Anddon'tbeafraidtoaskthemforadvice
and to point the birds out. Almost all will be happy to share their expertise.
Q Is it better to go birding on my own or with a group?
A
Attending local birding field trips or going birding with more experienced birders can
provide a lot of shortcuts for beginners trying to become proficient. You'll learn the best
hot spots, glean all kinds of valuable tips from experts, test out spotting scopes, and build
up your life list much more quickly than you could on your own. And the fun of birding
can be enhanced by the camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts.
That said, in my opinion you should spend at least as much time birding alone as you
do on organized field trips. On field trips, novice birders have a tendency to defer to ex-
perts and those with more experience, and even to shut off their own sense of inquiry
when the answers are so readily available. The more time you spend teasing out frustrat-
ing identifications on your own, the more skilled you'll become. Another advantage of
goingsoloisthat youcan explore places that aren'taspopular,andoccasionally discover
“good birds” that no one else would have found.
A birding buddy can enhance your birding experiences wonderfully. The trick is find-
ing the right one. The ideal birding companion shares your birding rhythms and your fin-
ancialandtimeconstraints,sharesyourlevelofcompetitiveness, isroughlyyourequalin
skills so you can learn from one another and egg each other on to higher skill levels, and
isfuntobewithonlongtrips.Idealbirdingbuddiesarehardtofind!Butifyoucanfinda
group of like-minded birders who enjoy being together from time to time, you can enjoy
convivial company and save money and gas when headed to fairly distant birding sites or
chasing hotline birds.
Q Some people say we shouldn't worry about what colors we wear when birding.
Others say not to wear bright colors, and some say we shouldn't wear white but any-
thing else is okay. I noticed when people were searching for the Ivory-billed Wood-
pecker, they were all wearing camouflage. Who should I believe?
A
I've seen plenty of birds when wearing bright colors, including hummingbirds that
were attracted by my bright red hat, an oriole that was drawn in by my bright orange
